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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/03/15 - ADMIN - Minutes - Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission March 15, 2017 6 p.m. – Tour of Minnehaha Creek Trail 6:30 p.m. - Meeting in MSC 1st Floor Conference Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Rich Bluma, George Foulkes, Elizabeth Griffin, George Hagemann, Edward Halvorson, Tiffany Hoffmann MEMBERS ABSENT: Sarah Foulkes, Peter May GUEST PRESENT: Rebecca Schaar STAFF PRESENT: Rick Beane, Park Superintendent, Meg McMonigal, Planning and Zoning Supervisor, Stacy Voelker, Recording Secretary and Cindy Walsh, Director of Operations and Recreation 1. Call to Order Commissioner Hoffman, Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:24 p.m. 2. Presentations None. 3. Approval of Minutes a. January 18, 2016 Commissioner Griffin made a motion to approve the minutes of January 18, 2017. Commissioner Hagemann seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6 – 0. 4. New Business a. PLACE Development (36th Street & Wooddale) – Park & Trail Dedication Fees (Meg McMonigal) Meg McMonigal, Planning and Zoning Supervisor, explained the city received an application from PLACE E-Generation One, LLC for a proposed PLACE development. The city has worked with PLACE, a non-profit developer, over three years. The proposed development will be located at West 36th Street and Wooddale Avenue, near the proposed light rail station. The proposal is a “transit oriented” development which would include 299 units (200 affordable, 99 market-rate), 110-room hotel, café, coffee house, more residential units with parking garage, 100 live/work units for artists and an urban forest. The sidewalks and trails would like to the regional trail, which will go under Wooddale Avenue. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting 2 March 15, 2017 The proposal is environmentally sustaining and would include several green roofs, solar panels and an e-generation facility (food scraps from development turn into energy). They may place a helical wind turbine on north side of property. The proposal includes mobility plan with car/bike sharing, shuttle and 90 units of car-free living incentives. Ms. McMonigal recommended cash-in-lieu since no new parks are designated for the area. Dedication can only be collected from non-platted land. This would equal a total dedication of $532,738 for both park and trail fees. Commissioner Bluma inquired if this project was contingent on the light rail going through. Ms. McMonigal explained it is not contingent upon the light rail project. PLACE expects to be open before light rail is operational. Commissioner Hagemann inquired if plans include the Wooddale bridge (over Highway 7) to accommodate traffic. Ms. McMonigal indicated staff is working with a consultant to return the Wooddale Avenue Bridge to four lanes, which would improve use for walkers and bikers, and create a safer environment. Ms. McMonigal indicated the light rail project is waiting for one more approval by Federal Government for funding, then construction can begin. All engineering plans are complete. The light rail runs from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie and expected to be operational by 2021. There will be three stations in St. Louis Park: Louisiana Avenue, Wooddale and Beltline Boulevard. Greenery will be removed from the parts of the trail that are wooded. Commissioner Hagemann made a motion to approve acceptance of cash-in-lieu of land in the estimated amount of $532,738 for Park and Trail dedication from the PLACE E- Generation One, LLC proposal. Commissioner G. Foulkes seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6 – 0. 5. Old Business a. Fastpitch Softball Task Force Update (Rick Beane) Ms. Walsh provided an update on the progress of the Fastpitch Softball Task Force discussions. The hired consultant is reviewing cost estimates of the top three locations chosen and will present to the Task Force in April. The Task Force’s recommendation will be made to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission then will be presented to the City Council. b. Skate Park Update (Rick Beane) Mr. Beane indicated Request for Proposals were sent out to various bidders for the skate park which will be located in the southwest corner of Carpenter Park. Three bidders submitted proposals: California Skateparks, Grindline and Spohn Ranch. The Task Force chose California Skateparks, whose bid was for $200,000. A $100,000 grant was approved from the Hennepin County Youth Sports Facility for this project. The bid summary will go to the City Council March 20. Staff hopes to build the skate park in conjunction with Engineering’s Storm water project. The skate park will be maintenance Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting 3 March 15, 2017 friendly as it will be all concrete. Commissioner Bluma indicated the size of the skate park will be 55 x 120. Commissioner Hagemann inquired on the parking concern. Mr. Beane advised there is adequate parking with City Hall parking lot and parking on the road. There is room to add 10-12 parking spaces if needed in the future. The Little League Baseball Association is aware of the construction and fields will remain playable, advised Mr. Beane. Staff thanked Commissioner Bluma for his time and assistance on this project. Bluma complimented Mark from 3rd Lair as he’s been very helpful and provided great input in the process. c. ROC Update (Cindy Walsh) Ms. Walsh provided the Commission with an update on the installation of the roof on the ROC. Two of the large glulam beams were installed via two large cranes. All eight of the beams will be installed by the end of next week, followed by cross beams. One sheet of fabric will be stretched and affixed to all areas of the beams. The grand opening of the ROC will be held on Sunday, May 21, with the Children First Ice Cream Social. The ROC will be available for rental this summer. Staff may add turf for a couple weeks in October to get it fitted for spring of 2018. Mr. Beane advised the outside refrigeration system cooled the indoor rinks for a huge cost savings over the winter. Broomball league finished on the ice at the ROC, advised Ms. Walsh, when the weather was warmer and the other outdoor rinks were unusable. The City Council approved a first and second reading of an ordinance change regarding the allowance of alcohol at the Rec Center, Ms. Walsh indicated. The ordinance now reads that alcoholic beverages are allowed in the ROC. Commissioner Hagemann inquired if there are reciprocities with the ROC. Ms. Walsh indicated there are none at this time but it is a good idea. d. Confirm Date for Creek Clean Up and Arbor Day Ms. Walsh reminded members the Minnehaha Creek clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, April 29 from 9 – 11 a.m. Volunteers can meet at the parking lot of Izaak Walton Creekside Park for assignments. Arbor Day tree planting will be held Saturday, May 6 from 9 a.m. – noon at Wolfe Park. Encouraged volunteers attend. Mr. Halvorson indicated the High School has a community service program for unexcused absences that would be a good fit for these type of events. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting 4 March 15, 2017 6. Staff Communication A Request for Proposals was sent out to numerous firms for architectural services for the Westwood Hills Nature Center project, advised Ms. Walsh. Staff searched nation-wide for firms, mailed to numerous firms and advertised the project. Requests for Proposals are due April 24. Staff will interview architects and present their recommendation to the City Council in June. Ms. Walsh invited a Commission member to be on the interview panel. Once an architect is chosen, more public processes will take place. The Commission will see renditions of the drafts as they happen. The Nature Center building will be located closer to the parking lot, will have a great deal of emphasis on sustainability and will have a fun environment. Mr. Beane advised four playground meetings were held as four playgrounds are due for replacement. The community is invited to view and chose the playground for each park. Twin Lakes had 105 people attend the meeting to choose a playground. Generally there are 10 – 15 people that attend the playground meetings. There were eight different playground designs for viewing. Recently staff hosted a meeting for the potential of security lights added to the dog park at Cedar Knoll Park. Out of the 12 people that attended the meeting, there was only one individual opposed to security lights. Mr. Hagemann advised people to contact the police department with issues arise. The security lights will be installed in late April, Mr. Beane indicated. The Cedar Knoll dog park users are forming a group similar to the Dakota dog Park and will assist with spreading of woodchips, etc. A common theme that originated from the meeting is that users stay later than 8:30 p.m. Staff reiterated to users the dog park closes at 8:30 p.m. as a courtesy to neighbors. 7. Member Communication None. 8. Other / Future Agenda Items Staff and members discussed: decided on May 3, 2017 (combine April and May meetings), begin at 6 p.m. 9. Adjournment It was moved by Commission member Hagemann and seconded by Commission member Griffin to adjourn at 7:36 p.m. The motion passed 6 - 0. Respectfully submitted, Stacy Voelker Stacy Voelker Recording Secretary